Strange But True: How Two-Platoon Football Began

Before 1945 nearly every football player had to play both offense and defense. All the pros were 60-minute men. They would leave the game only if injured or to take a brief rest. Even the quarterback, often the lightest player on the team, had to make tackles.

During World War II most of America’s young men were in the armed services. Military teams, such as Great Lakes Naval Training Station, had outstanding teams. The best team in college football was Army, which had the cream of the crop. Fullback “Doc” Blanchard tore holes in the line and was nicknamed Mr. Inside. Halfback Glenn Davis, the fast ball carrier who went around end, was Mr. Outside.

By September 1945 the war was over but very few servicemen were back in school yet. Most college players were very young and had little experience. A team of such players was Fritz Crisler’s University of Michigan squad. Army was on Michigan’s schedule, and Crisler knew his boys had little chance to beat the Cadets. But as he watched the Michigan team practice, he noticed that some players were better on defense, others on offense.

Crisler divided his team into units. When Michigan had the ball, their offensive unit played. When their opponents had possession, the Michigan defensive unit went in. Football fans were treated to the unusual sight of an entire team leaving the field, to be replaced by another entire team.

In the Army game Crisler’s plan worked well for three periods. But nobody could hold Army forever. The Cadets won, 28-7. But Crisler’s tactics had held the score down.

Officials were puzzled by the unlimited substitution at first. They tinkered with the rules. They decided that if a player was taken out of a game in one quarter, he couldn’t return until the next period. But that change didn’t work out well. As the years passed, new methods of attack and defense were developed until Fritz Crisler’s two-platoon football eventually became firmly established.